Combined electric wiring and molding system



Oct, 3, 1939. R. L. DAVISON COMBINED ELECTRIC WIRING AND MOLDING SYSTEM Filed Sept. 25, 1935 INVENTOR vis flu oberf L. D BY HIS 'Patented Oct. 3, 1939' PATENT OFFICE.

COMBINED nmo'rnrc wmmo AND MOLDING SYSTEM Robert L. Davison, New York, N. Y., assignor to John B. Pierce Foundation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application September 23, 1933, Serial No. 690,653

2 Claims. (01. 173-3341) This invention relates .to'a system of combined electrical wiring and molding, serving dual purposes of a finish for a structure of a room,

enclosure and the like, as, for example, between a the floor and the base board, at the tip of the base board, a picture molding, side wall and ceiling meeting molding; etc., and to house, insulate and protect electrical wiring.

A A feature of the present form of my invention in is the provision of relatively long units of combined molding and electrical wiring, the terminals of the conductors of such long units not projecting at either end, and advantageously substantially flush at both ends of each long unit, in ii association with units of relatively short length, the terminals of the conductors of each short length projecting at both ends of each short unit, each short unit serving to interconnect long units, the terminals of the respective conductors 39 being spaced and dimensioned relative to one another to effect mechanical as well as electrical connection between the corresponding conductors of the thus assembled units.

A primary feature of the present invention is 25 the provision of outlet means afforded by the short and/or long units of my system, the channels of each outlet means being initially concealed.

Advantageously, such object is attained by providing such outlet means in a short unit, and

coating or facing the exposed face of the unit with a frangible material to thus conceal the channels of the outlet means,whereby upon locating the terminals of a plug of an electrica cord 35 or other wiring and applying pressure upon the areas of the thus initially concealed ends of the channels, such areas of the frangible material are removed, enabling the terminals of the plug to be brought into good electrical engagement with 40 the contact members of the outlet means, and accordingly with the respective conductors of the unit. 1

Such form of initially concealed outlet channel arrangement may be carried out in the construc- 45 tion of long units at standard or other spacial' relation with one another.

Preferably, the locations of the frangible or other removable area of the initially concealed outlet channels may be identified by projeetional,

50 indentational or other indications.

A feature of the present invention is the desideratum of the assembled component units of my system having substantially like, and preferably identical, outward appearance, attained, for

II example, by providing substantially identical configuration, color, etc., of the exposed faces. whereby the component units, inclusive of its outlet means provisions, present visually substantial integrity.

To afford a suitable outlet means, singly or 5 plurally, for electrical connection with the de sired electrical consumption device, or devices. such as electric lamps, electric clocks, radios, electrical refrigerators, etc., the units of my system are mechanically assembled to locatesuch l0 outlet means-provided unit or units closely adjacent the location or locations of the respective consumption devices.

Desirably, the material of the body of each unit is of electrical insulating quality. The positioning of the respective conductors in the units and insulatingly embodying of the same within the body material may be carried out by molding, extruding, or such other procedure as may be preferred. i

V The frangible concealing outer material of the outlet means-provided short unit may be formed by dipping or other application, molding, etc. The relatively short dimensions of the short unit facilitates -the procedure, attendant also with low material and labor costs.

Advantageously, the outer face of each unit may serve as a finish material, which may be readily applied by dipping or other application, whereby the outer ends of the channels of the outlet means are closed by athickness of the finish material of such small dimensions as to render the same readily frangible for the insertion of the terminals of a plug or equivalent.

In such preferred embodiments of my invention the frangible material extends imperforately over the channels of the outlet means, and presents identical appearance to the eye, of the observer as the remainder ofthe exposed faces of the unit and of the exposed faces of adjacent 40 units.

Advantageously, the conductors of the long units of my molding-electrical wiring system are of tubular or equivalent formation and the con ductors of each short unit are of rod or equivalent formation, as is set forth more particularly in my co-pending application Serial No. 682,757, filed July 29, 1933, entitled Electrical wiring and molding system. i I

If desired, the rod or equivalent form of conductors may be embodied in the long units, in which instance the terminals of both conductors project at both ends of each long unit, and correspondingly the conductors of the short units may be of tubular or equivalent formation, the

, terminals of which at both ends of each short unit do not project, and are preferably substantially flush, relative to the respective ends of each short unit, as is set forth and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 643,325, filed Nov. 19, 1932, entitled Combined molding and electric conductor.

Further features and objects of the invention. will be more fully understood from the following detail description and the accompanying drawing, in which I Fig. 1 is a perspective view, of diagrammatic character, showing one manner of application of the short unit illustrated at the left in Fig. 2;

' Fig. 5 is a plan view, partly broken away in section, showing a manner of application of a corner short unit assembled withalternately disposed long units; this view also shows another type of long unit;

Fig. 6 is a vertical central sectional view of a short or long unit showing a manner of connection with a power line.

Fig. 1 illustrates a manner of assembly of component units of my combined molding and wiring system, applied to a baseboard, extending about a reversely angled corner of a room. It will be understood that such application is clearly illustrative,.and that my system is not limited to the indicated detail construction.

In general, the units of my system comprise relatively long units and relatively short units. The relatively short units serve the general purpose of mechanically interconnecting the relatively long units. Electrical conductors are insulatedly embodied in each of the units, respective conductor termini of the respective units being constructed and located to effect registry. Accordingly, the respective units serve to interconnect one another mechanically as well as to respectively electrically connect the component parts of the respective conductors embodied in the interconnected units.

As above indicated, either of the forms of conductors and arrangement of mechanical-electrical assembly of the same, pursuant to my two stated co-pending applications, may be employed. The form of conductors and arrangement set forth in my aforesaid co-pending application Serial No. 682,757 is preferred, by reason of the mere operation of severing of the material of a long unit to meet varied dimensional requirements in practice attains also a severing of the embedded tubular conductors, flush, or substantially flush, with the severed end of the unit. In such embodiment of my invention, each short unit is provided with rods or equivalent serving as the conductors, to afford joint mechanical and electrical connections with the projecting ends of the tubular or equivalent conductors of the long unit or units.

The long units indicated-in Fig. 1- are designated ID; the short units of rectilinear formation, that is to say, serving to interconnect long units in straight runs", are designated II. The converging facial short unit indicated at I2 serves to interconnect the indicated alternately disposed long units ID, ID at the convergent angle between the indicated walls I3, I4. The divergent short unit I 5 serves to interconnect the indicated alternately disposed long units I0, III, at the divergent angle between theindicated walls I3, IS.

A characterististic of the present invention resides in the employment of short units, each of which is provided with suitable outlet means, including channels for the contact members of the outlet means, the channels at. their respective intersections with the exposed face of the molding being initially closed by suitable frangible material or other removable means.

One embodiment of my invention is indicated in Fig. 2 wherein the short unit II is provided with rod or equivalent conductors I I, I8, the respective ends Ila, I8a of the conductors II, I8, projecting at both ends of the unit II. Within the unit, as indicated in Fig. 4, I provide suitable outlet means, comprising in essence the channels I9, within which, are positioned resilient or other suitable contact members 2|, 22 respectively secured and electrically connected to the conductors I'I, I8.

As above indicated, the material of the body I la of the unit I I is preferably of insulating character, to thereby directly insulate the bared conductors I1, I8, and also to serve as appropriate body material for the molding per se. The exposed face IIb' of the unit, and in particular of the portions I I0 located at the respective otherwise exposed ends of the channels I9, 20, is of a material having suitable qualities to serve as an appropriate finish for the exposed face I Ib, and of suflicient frangible character whereby upon approximately positioning the terminals of raping at the areas of the material portions II c, He and applying pressure inwardly relative to the unit II, the portions He, He, are broken, and removed, thus enabling the plug terminals to be received within the respective channels-I9, III, and to engage the contact members 2I, 22 to make good electrical contact therewith.

As; suitable material Ha, I cite lacquers, varnishes, heavy shellacs, rubber inclusive of latex compositions, etc.

The long unit I0 shown in Fig. 2, illustrates the employment of tubular or equivalent conductors 23, 24 embodied in the material serving as the body IOa of the unit,the conductors 23, being insulatedly embedded therein and positioned relative to one another and relative to the projecting termini I la, I8a of the respective conductors of the therewith connected short unit II..

The respective termini 23a, 24a, at both ends of the long unit ID are flush, or substantially flush with the respective ends of the body of the unit.

The long units I0 may be manufactured of standard length, and/or of such range of lengths as may be desired. For attaining lengths less than any standard or other length of along unit y 2,175,145 "m1 serving as the initially closing material lie of Suitable connection with the house wiring system or other power line wires is had as will be understood by those skilled in the art. Advantageously, as is illustrated in Fig. 6, such power connection is afforded by the provision of a rearwardly disposed recess, to thereby bothconceal and protect the power line connections. Most advantageously, power connection is had by providing all, or mayhap special types, of short units II with such rearwardly disposed recess, indicated in Fig. 6, at 25, the bared ends of the leads 26, 2! of the cable 28 being soldered or otherwise secured'to the indicated conductors l1, I! of the combined molding-wiring unit' ll, pursuant to,

approved practice; the recess 25 is preferably closed by the use of a suitable plastic insulating material, in protection of the secured connections.

The use of frangible or other removable form of initial concealment of the outlet means may be carried out in the manufacture of long units, by single or plural outlet means for each long' unit, at predetermined or other longitudinal spacing relative to one another as may bepreferred. Fig. 5 illustrates one form of such embodiment of my invention, the facial portions 28,

30 at the indicated dotted areas, being of the nature of the facial material portions llc, Ilc, as in a short unit II, and serving to initially conceal the respective channels of a suitable outlet means, similarly as is indicated in Fig. '4 with reference to a short unit ll.

My invention is similarly applicable to the various other forms of short and long units, as illustrated and/or described in my co-pending application Serial No. 682,757, in each instance the openings of the channels of the outlets provided in the units being initially concealed by frangible or other removable means.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to specific forms thereof, it will be may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1 claim: I v

1. A combined molding and electrical wiring system comprising alternately assembled long and short conductor carrying units composed entirely of insulating material. and adapted to serve as a building molding, hollow electrical conductors insulatedly embodied in each long unit having termini respectively substantially flush at each end of each long unit, said short units serving as couplings for the long units and having electrical conductors insulatedly embodied therein having termini respectively projecting at understood that many changes and modifications each end of each short unit and arranged to re -spectively engage the hollow termini of the conductors of adjacent long'units, certain of said short units being provided with outlet means, the exposed faces of said long units and certain of said outlet-provided short units being covered respectively with identical finish material of relatively thin dimension substantially identical in facial contour to effect visual continuity when assembled, such finish material extending continuously over the openings of the outlet means of said outlet-provided short units normally concealing such openings and frangible to afford acess into such openings. ll

2. A combined molding'and electricalwirirlg system comprising alternately assembled long and short condnctor carryins units composed entirely of" insulating material, and adapted-to serve as a building molding, said short units serving as couplings for the long units, the conductors of said long units and said short units being in continuous conductive relationship when the units are assembled end to end, the insulation I within the body of each long unit and each short unit wholly embracing the respective conductors of such unit and integrally extending from conductor to conductor. of such unit, the exposed I faces of said long units and said short units being covered respectively with identical finish material of relatively thin dimension and having their lateral edges in rectilinear alignment to effect visual continuity when assembled, such finish material extending continuously over the openings of said units normally concealing such openings and frangible to afford access into such openings.

ROBERT L. DAVISON. 

